CN112243344B

CN112243344B - Cutting knife, cutting disc and harvester

Info

Publication number: CN112243344B
Application number: CN201980018096.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·J·曼托姆
Original assignee: CNH China Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Keisnew Netherlands Industrial Harbin Machinery Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-09
Filing date: 2019-03-08
Publication date: 2022-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-08
Also published as: CN112243344A; WO2019169468A1; BR102018004790B1; BR102018004790A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cutting knife (350) for a cutting disc (33, 330) of a side cutter of a row divider (30) of an agricultural harvester (10), the cutting knife (350) comprising two cutting ends (351, 352), wherein each of the cutting ends (351, 352) comprises two cutting edges (351a, 351b 352a, 352b.

Description

Cutting knife, cutting disc and harvester

Technical Field

The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters and, more particularly, to a cutting knife for a side cutting disc used in the cleaning of harvester row dividers.

Background

Harvesting of graminaceous plants with stems, such as sugar cane, is generally performed by one type of agricultural harvester comprising row dividers which allow the separation of the stem rows for harvesting.

The row divider typically contains a feed roller called a "lollipop" which lifts the lying or tangled stalks by a spinning motion and directs the stalks downstream relative to the forward motion of the harvester chassis.

It is not uncommon for the leaves and stems to become trapped or entangled in the structure of the row dividers due to the function of the dividers. Such trapped material may cause reduced feeding performance of the machine, inefficient sorting and feeding, and even damage to the divider and feeder components, which may remove roots in addition to damaging the sugarcane crop.

To minimize this problem, row dividers typically include side cutters near the rollers of the row divider. Typically, each side cutter comprises a disc with a cutting knife attached to an arm arranged to move up and down in the vicinity of the feed roller. Thus, the cutting knife acts on the stem and tangled leaves, releasing them.

One of the disadvantages associated with side cutting discs is the need for frequent maintenance, as the cutting edges of the knives tend to wear relatively quickly. Since each tray has multiple knives, the need for replacement, in addition to interrupting the operation of the machine, presents logistical challenges in terms of the receipt, storage, and transfer of new knives, in terms of the replacement process, and in terms of the removal of the replaced knives, thereby losing the effective field capacity of the harvester.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a simpler and practical solution to address the maintenance challenges of the side cutters of the row dividers of an agricultural harvester.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates firstly to a cutting knife for a cutting disk of a side cutter of a row divider of an agricultural harvester, said cutting knife comprising two cutting ends, wherein each of said cutting ends comprises two cutting edges.

According to additional and/or alternative embodiments of the cutting burr according to the invention, the following features may also be present, alone or in technically possible combinations:

the cutting end is symmetrical and the cutting blade has a geometric axis of symmetry defining a symmetrical half of the blade.

The cutting edges may be arranged in a V-shape with respective apexes in opposite distal positions of the cutting burr. Each of the cutting edges may be formed by a portion of a flap having serrated edges.

The invention also relates to a cutting disc for a side cutter of a row divider of an agricultural harvester, the cutting disc comprising a plate formed by three lobe portions projecting from a common centre; and three cutting knives, wherein each of the cutting knives is fixed at one end of a corresponding one of the three lobe portions.

There is also provided an agricultural harvester of the type including a row divider with two feed rollers and a side cutter adjacent the feed rollers; wherein the side cutter comprises a disc having at least one cutting knife attached to an arm arranged to move up and down in the vicinity of the feed roller, wherein each of the cutting knives comprises two cutting ends, wherein each of the cutting ends comprises two cutting edges.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of an agricultural harvester with row dividers as known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of components of a row divider of a prior art agricultural harvester;

fig. 3 is a top perspective view of a cutting burr according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a side cutting disk according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a side cutting disk according to the present invention; and

fig. 6 is a top view of a plate of a side cutting disk according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described with respect to particular embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are schematic and their dimensions and/or proportions may not be in accordance with practice, since they are intended to describe the invention in a pedagogical manner. Moreover, for the sake of clarity and brevity of the following description, certain well-known and common construction details may have been omitted. The use of reference numbers throughout the several figures is repeated to identify the same or similar elements. The final terms used, such as "above", "below", "front", "rear", "left", "right", etc., as well as variations thereof, should be construed in accordance with the guidance given in fig. 1.

Also, terms that may be used herein (such as harvester, picking machine, harvester, and variations thereof) are used interchangeably to refer to agricultural machines used to harvest vegetable crops.

Referring now to the drawings, fig. 1 and 2 illustrate aspects of an agricultural harvester 10 in which the cutting knives and cutting discs proposed by the present invention may be employed. In the drawings, the harvester 10 is arranged as a cane harvester. However, in other embodiments, harvester 10 may correspond to any suitable agricultural harvester known in the art.

As shown in fig. 1, the harvester 10 includes a chassis 12, a pair of front wheels 14, a pair of rear wheels 16, and an operator cab 18. The harvester 10 may also include a primary power source (e.g., a motor mounted on the chassis 12) that powers one or both pairs of

wheels

14, 16 through a transmission (not shown). Alternatively, the harvester 10 may be a harvester driven on tracks, and thus may incorporate tracks driven by a motor mechanism in place of the illustrated

wheels

14, 16. The motor mechanism may also drive a hydraulic fluid pump (not shown) arranged to generate pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive various hydraulic components of the harvester 10.

Additionally, the harvester 10 may include various components for cutting, processing, cleaning, and unloading the sugar cane as it is harvested from the field 20. For example, the harvester 10 may include a tip cutter device 22 positioned at its forward end to intercept sugar cane as the harvester 10 moves in a forward direction. As shown, the tip cutter device 22 may include a collection tray 24 and a cutter tray 26. The collection pan 24 may be arranged to collect the sugarcane stalks such that the cutter pan 26 may be used to cut the tips of each stalk. In general, the height of the tip cutter device 22 may be adjusted as desired by the operator by means of a pair of hydraulically erected and lowered arms 28.

Additionally, the harvester 10 can include row dividers 30 that extend upward and rearward from the field 20. In general, the row divider 30 may contain two spiral feed rollers 32, also known as "lollipops". Each feed roller 32 may contain a ground shoe 34 as its lower end assists the walking separator 30 in separating the sugar cane stalks for harvesting. Additionally, as shown in fig. 1, the harvester 10 can include a kicker roller 36 positioned adjacent the front wheels 14 and a roller 38 with projections positioned behind the kicker roller 36. As the knock-down roller 36 rotates, the harvested cane stalks are pushed down as the row divider 30 collects the stalks from the field 20 toward the interior of the machine 10. In addition, as shown in fig. 1, the crowned rollers 38 may comprise a plurality of intermittently mounted fins 40, said fins 40 helping to push the sugar cane stalks downward. As the roller 38 rotates during harvesting, the sugarcane stalks that are pushed down by the push down roller 36 are sorted and then pushed down by the roller 38 as the harvester 10 continues to move forward relative to the field 20.

Referring also to fig. 1, the machine 10 may also include a bottom cutting assembly 42 positioned behind the rollers 38. As is generally understood, the bottom cutting apparatus 42 may include blades (not shown) to cut the cane stalks as the cane is harvested. The blades located on the periphery of the device 42 may be rotated by hydraulic motors (not shown) driven by the hydraulic system of the harvester. Additionally, in several embodiments, the blades may be angled downwardly to cut the bottom of the cane as it is pushed over by the rollers 38.

Additionally, the harvester 10 may include a set of one or more dancers 44 downstream of the bottom cutting device 42 to move the cut sugar cane stalks along the processing trajectory from the bottom cutting device 42. As shown in fig. 1, the set of dancers 44 may comprise a plurality of lower rollers 46 and a plurality of upper rollers 48. As the sugar cane is conveyed through the set of floating rollers 44, waste matter (e.g., stones, dirt, and/or the like) may also be conveyed or dropped over the field 20 by the lower rollers 46.

Additionally, the harvester 10 can include a chopper device 50 located at a downstream end of the set of dancers 44 (e.g., adjacent to the last lower and upper rollers 46, 48). Generally, the chopper device 50 may be used to cut or chop the harvested sugarcane stalks into pieces or smaller "billets" 51 (which may be, for example, 15.24 centimeters (six (6) inches)), also referred to as billets. The section 51 may then be driven in the direction of an elevator device 52 of the harvester 10 to be collected on an external receiver or storage device, such as a truck or transfer device (not shown).

As is generally understood, pieces of waste 53 (e.g., dust, dirt, leaves, etc.) sorted from the sugarcane segments 51 may be discharged from the harvester 10 by a primary extractor 54, which primary extractor 54 is located behind the shredder device 50 and oriented to direct the waste 53 out of the harvester 10. Additionally, a fan 56 may be mounted on the primary extractor 54 to generate a suction or vacuum sufficient to capture the waste 53 and force the waste 53 through the primary extractor 54. Waste 53 is then directed outwardly and generally in the opposite direction of harvester 10 by means of the output of primary extractor 54. The sorted section 51, which is heavier than the waste 53 discharged from the extractor 54, can then fall onto an elevator device 52.

As shown in fig. 1, elevator assembly 52 may generally include an elevator housing 58 and an elevator 60, elevator 60 extending within elevator housing 58 between a lower proximal end 62 and an upper distal end 64. Generally, the elevator 60 may include a chain or conveyor belt 66 and a plurality of paddles or projections 68 evenly coupled or spaced on the chain 66. The projections 68 may be arranged to secure the sugar cane segments 51 in the elevator 60 as the segments 51 rise towards the top 70 of the elevator. Additionally, elevator 60 may include a lower sprocket 72 and an upper sprocket 74 positioned about proximal end 62 and distal end 64, respectively. As shown in fig. 1, an elevator motor 76 may be coupled to one of the sprockets (e.g., upper sprocket 74) to drive the chain 66, allowing the chain 66 and the projections 68 to travel in an endless loop between the proximal end 62 and the distal end 64 of the elevator 60.

Additionally, pieces of waste 53 (e.g., dust, dirt, leaves, etc.) sorted from the cane segments 51 may be discharged from the harvester 10 via a secondary extractor 78 coupled to the rear end of the elevator housing 58. As shown in fig. 1, secondary extractor 78 may be adjacent distal end 64 of elevator 60 and may be oriented to direct waste 53 out of harvester 10. Additionally, a fan 80 may be mounted on the secondary extractor 78 to generate a suction or vacuum sufficient to extract the waste 53 and force the waste 53 through the secondary extractor 78. The sorted out section 51, which is heavier than the waste 53 discharged by the extractor 78, may then fall off the distal end 64 of the elevator 60. Typically, the segments 51 may drop through the discharge opening 82 of the elevator device 52 into an external storage device (not shown), such as a car, transfer device, dump truck, or the like.

During operation, the harvester 10 is driven through the entire field 20 to harvest sugar cane. Once the height of the tip cutter 22 is adjusted by means of the arm 28 (if used), the collection pan 24 in the tip cutter device 22 can operate to collect the sugarcane tips as the harvester 10 travels through the field 20, while the cutter pan 26 cuts the multi-lobal tips of the sugarcane stalks to drop them down along both sides of the harvester 10. The shoes 34 may be arranged to operate wide to determine the amount of cane entering the input of the harvester 10, either fixed or adjustable, as the stalks enter the row divider 30. The lollipop 32 then collects the stems at the machine inlet so that the kickdown roller 36 can act in conjunction with the feed roller 38 to bend the stems downward. The bottom cutting device 42 may then cut the bottom of the stem from the field 20 after the stem is positioned at an angle as shown in fig. 1. The cut stems are then directed to the set of dancers 44.

The cut sugar cane stalks are transported backwards by the

dancers

46, 48, which

dancers

46, 48 compress the stalks and the harvested material. At the downstream end of the set of dancers 44, a shredder device 50 cuts or shreds the compressed sugar cane stalks into pieces or segments 51. The conveyed waste 53 (e.g., dust, dirt, leaves, etc.) sorted from the cane segments 51 is then extracted by the primary extractor 54 using suction created by the fan 56. The sorted/cleaned out section 51 then falls to elevator arrangement 52 and travels upwardly from its proximal end 62 to a distal end 64 by means of elevator 60. During normal operation, once the segment 51 reaches the distal end 64 of the elevator 60, the segment 51 drops through the discharge opening 82 to an external storage device. Similar to the primary extractor 54, waste is blown out of the harvester 10 by the secondary extractor 78 by means of an extractor fan 80.

Fig. 2 is a simplified schematic illustration of the row divider 30, in which two helical feed rollers 32 can be seen, as well as a side cutting disc 33 positioned adjacent to the two feed rollers 32. The side cutting discs comprise flat discs with a plurality of cutting knives 35 arranged at intervals on the circumference of the disc 33.

The disc 33 is provided on an arm arranged to move up and down in the vicinity of the roller 32.

As can be seen in fig. 2, in harvesters known in the prior art, each of the cutting knives 35 has a generally triangular shape with two cutting edges at the edges of the triangle and a lower flap for attaching the knife to the pan.

Fig. 3 to 6 show an embodiment of the invention with respect to the cutting knives and with respect to the side cutting discs 330, said side cutting discs 330 comprising a plate 331 on which at least one cutting knife 350 is fastened.

As best shown in fig. 3, the cutting knife 350 according to the first aspect of the invention comprises a knife having two cutting ends 351 and 352, wherein each of said cutting ends 351, 352 comprises two

cutting edges

351a,351b and 352a,352 b. As shown in the figures, the cutting edges may be arranged in a V-shape with the respective apex of each V positioned in the distal-most portion of the blade such that the apexes are in opposing distal positions. Of course, other cutting edge forms are also foreseen, such as square, circular or even irregular forms, and the specific form of the cutting edge is not relevant to the present invention, as long as the cutting blade comprises at least two cutting ends, each having two cutting edges.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 3-5, the cutting ends 351 and 352 are symmetrical, with a geometric symmetry axis (X) defining the corresponding symmetrical halves of the knife 350.

In this embodiment, the knife 350 may be fixed to the cutting disc by means of screws, in particular two screws 355, which screws 355 pass through two holes 353 provided on the geometric symmetry axis and fix the blade 350 to the cutting disc 330. In alternative embodiments not shown, other securing means may be employed, such as using only one screw and groove formed on the disk itself to retain a blade, rivet, clamp, nut, or the like.

With this arrangement, the cutting blade can be used in four steps: first the two cutting edges (351 a and 351 b) of the first one of the cutting ends (351) are used, that is, once one of the edges (351 a or 351 b) wears, the cutting knife can only be turned, and then the other two cutting edges (352 a and 352 b) of the other cutting end (352) are used. Since the cutting blade is symmetrical and the fixation takes place on the axis of symmetry, the change of position for using the second cutting end does not disturb the regular use of the cutting disc.

This feature of the invention significantly facilitates maintenance of the contralateral cutter, since components do not need to be replaced at the same frequency, which significantly reduces the inventory of knives required for operation, in addition to maximizing use of the knives.

The cutting blade 350 may be made of a metallic material such as corrosion resistant carbon steel, and each of the cutting edges 351 and 352 may be formed by cutting or machining, and preferably tempered thereon to increase hardness and thus wear resistance.

Fig. 4 and 5 show a second aspect of the invention in which three cutting knives 350 are provided on a cutting disc 330, the cutting disc 330 comprising a plate 331 formed of three lobe portions 332 projecting from a common centre. However, it should be emphasized that the cutting knives 350 may equally be provided on a circular plate, such as the circular plate of a conventional form of cutting disc.

As used herein, the term "lobes" should be understood as unitary and continuous protrusions relative to the body that are equidistant on the axial axis of which it is a part, similar to the nomenclature used in handles and tri-lobe knobs.

Moreover, although the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 4 and 5 includes three cutting knives 350, those skilled in the art will recognize that the number of knives may be greater or smaller without detracting from the inventive concept presented.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, each lobe portion 332 receives a cutting blade 350. Thus, the end of each lobe portion 332 has a hole 332a for passing a set screw 355 of the knife 350 (see fig. 6).

The plate 331 has a through hole 333 in the center thereof, which through hole 333 enables the disc 330 to be fastened to the swing arm by means of a bearing or roller and connected to a hydraulic motor (not shown). In this sense, the rear of the disk may include supports 334 that help encapsulate the disk to the arm and hydraulic motor.

This arrangement combines the knife solution proposed by the present invention with a cutting disc 330, said cutting disc 330 having a reduced mass compared to a conventional circular disc, providing a smaller radial load on the hydraulic motor shaft, which ensures a longer service life.

Thus, in addition to providing a cutting knife that greatly reduces the operating force of the agricultural machine, the present invention also proposes a side cutter device that is lighter and therefore easier to operate and maintain.

Having described examples of embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention encompasses other possible variations of the inventive concept described which are limited only by the contents of the appended claims, including the potential equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A cutting knife (350) for a side cutting disc (33, 330) of a row divider (30) of an agricultural harvester (10), characterized in that the cutting face comprises two cutting ends (351, 352), wherein each of the two cutting ends (351, 352) comprises two cutting edges (351a, 351b, 352a, 352b), the cutting knife being fixed to the side cutting disc.

2. The cutting burr (350) of claim 1, wherein the cutting end (351, 352) is symmetrical, and wherein the cutting burr comprises a geometric symmetry axis defining a symmetry half of the cutting burr (350).

3. The cutting burr (350) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting edges (351a, 351b, 352a, 352b) are arranged in a V-shape with respective apexes in opposite distal positions of the cutting burr (350).

4. The cutting burr (350) of claim 1, characterized in that each of the cutting edges (351, 352) is formed by a portion of a flap or a flat plate having serrated edges.

5. A side cutting disk (330) for a side cutter of a row divider (30) of an agricultural harvester (10), comprising:

a plate (331), the plate (331) being formed of three lobe portions (332) protruding from a common center; and three cutting knives (350), each of said cutting knives (350) being fixed at one end of a corresponding one of the three lobe portions (332);

wherein each cutting knife (350) comprises two cutting ends (351, 352), and each of the cutting ends (351, 352) comprises two cutting edges (351a, 351b 352a, 352b.

6. The side cutting disc according to claim 5, wherein the cutting edges (351a, 351b, 352a, 352b) of the cutting knives (350) are arranged in a V-shape with respective apexes in opposite distal positions of the cutting knives (350).

7. The side cutting disc (330) according to claim 5, wherein the cutting ends (351, 352) of the cutting knives (350) are symmetrical, and wherein a geometrical symmetry axis defines a symmetrical half of the cutting knives (350).

8. An agricultural harvester (10) of the type comprising a row divider (30), said row divider (30) carrying two feed rollers (32), and a side cutter adjacent to said feed rollers (32); characterized in that the side cutter comprises a side cutting disc with at least one cutting knife attached to an arm arranged to move up and down in the vicinity of the feed roller (32), wherein the at least one cutting knife comprises two cutting ends (351, 352), wherein each of the cutting ends (351, 352) comprises two cutting edges (351a, 351b, 352a, 352b.

9. The agricultural harvester (10) according to claim 8, wherein said cutting edges (351a, 351b, 352a, 352b) are arranged in a V-shape with respective apexes in opposite distal positions of the cutting knife (350); and the cutting ends (351, 352) are symmetrical, and the cutting burr further comprises a geometrical symmetry axis defining symmetrical halves of the cutting burr (350).

10. The agricultural harvester (10) of claim 8, wherein the side cutting discs (330) include a plate (331), the plate (331) being formed of three lobe portions (332) protruding from a common center, and

the harvester includes three cutting knives (350), each of the cutting knives (350) being fixed at one end of a corresponding one of the three lobe portions (332).

11. The agricultural harvester (10) of claim 8, wherein said agricultural harvester (10) is a sugar cane harvester.